美国国家公共电台 NPR--A scandal in Brazil involves an ex-president, jewels and the Saudi government

A scandal in Brazil involves an ex-president, jewels and the Saudi government

Transcript¹

A scandal is unfolding in Brazil over millions of dollars in jewels that the Saudi government gave to former President Jair Bolsonaro.

A MART?NEZ, HOST:

A scandal unfolding in Brazil involves millions of dollars' worth of jewels, the Saudi government and former President Jair Bolsonaro. The jewels were a gift from the Saudis to Bolsonaro and his wife. Now officials are investigating his efforts to keep them. Here's NPR's Carrie Kahn.

CARRIE KAHN, BYLINE²: The jewels are valued at more than 16 million riyals, about $3.2 million. They were discovered by a Customs official in the backpack of an aide who returned to Brazil from the Saudi kingdom in late 2021. Current Finance Minister Fernando Haddad says the jewels, reportedly a gift for the former first lady, Michelle Bolsonaro, should have been declared.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

FERNANDO HADDAD: (Non-English language spoken).

KAHN: "Nobody can just get a present of 16 million riyals," he said. "Procedures must be followed, and they weren't," he added. Travelers to Brazil can bring in goods up to $1,000 tax-free. While Customs confiscated³ one set of jewels, apparently⁴ there was a second set they missed. It's unclear where that is or how much it's worth.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

JAIR BOLSONARO: (Non-English language spoken).

KAHN: "I'm getting crucified for a present I never received," Bolsonaro recently told a Brazilian TV station. He's been living in Florida since leaving Brazil right before leftist Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took office. Bolsonaro, a far-right nationalist, has never conceded defeat to Lula in last year's close election.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BOLSONARO: (Non-English language spoken).

KAHN: "I've never abused my authority," he said. His lawyer, contacted by NPR, says Bolsonaro did follow all pertinent⁵ laws. That's not true, says Daniela Campello, a political scientist at Brazil's FGV private university.

DANIELA CAMPELLO: I think it's a very straightforward⁶ case that everybody understands. It's a lot of money.

KAHN: She says no taxes were paid on the jewelry⁷, and...

CAMPELLO: It involves the former first lady, who is supposed to be a new leader of the far right in Brazil. So I think that's very damaging for the image of both Bolsonaro and his wife.

KAHN: Every day, a new revelation in the scandal's making headlines, like the latest, this video on GloboNews.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

UNIDENTIFIED AIDE: (Non-English language spoken).

KAHN: It's a Bolsonaro aide trying to persuade Customs to release the jewels just one day before Bolsonaro left for Florida. This was one of eight attempts his officials made. Bolsonaro's growing legal troubles are complicating⁸ his return to Brazil, which he said could be as early as this month.

Carrie Kahn, NPR News, Rio de Janeiro.

1 transcript   

n.抄本，誊本，副本，肄业证书

参考例句：

• A transcript of the tapes was presented as evidence in court.一份录音带的文字本作为证据被呈交法庭。
• They wouldn't let me have a transcript of the interview.他们拒绝给我一份采访的文字整理稿。

2 byline   

n.署名；v.署名

参考例句：

• His byline was absent as well.他的署名也不见了。
• We wish to thank the author of this article which carries no byline.我们要感谢这篇文章的那位没有署名的作者。

3 confiscated   

没收，充公( confiscate的过去式和过去分词 )

参考例句：

• Their land was confiscated after the war. 他们的土地在战后被没收。
• The customs officer confiscated the smuggled goods. 海关官员没收了走私品。

4 apparently   

adv.显然地；表面上，似乎

参考例句：

• An apparently blind alley leads suddenly into an open space.山穷水尽，豁然开朗。
• He was apparently much surprised at the news.他对那个消息显然感到十分惊异。

5 pertinent   

adj.恰当的；贴切的；中肯的；有关的；相干的

参考例句：

• The expert made some pertinent comments on the scheme.那专家对规划提出了一些中肯的意见。
• These should guide him to pertinent questions for further study.这些将有助于他进一步研究有关问题。

6 straightforward   

adj.正直的，坦率的；易懂的，简单的

参考例句：

• A straightforward talk is better than a flowery speech.巧言不如直说。
• I must insist on your giving me a straightforward answer.我一定要你给我一个直截了当的回答。

7 jewelry   

n.（jewllery）（总称）珠宝

参考例句：

• The burglars walked off with all my jewelry.夜盗偷走了我的全部珠宝。
• Jewelry and lace are mostly feminine belongings.珠宝和花边多数是女性用品。

8 complicating   

使复杂化( complicate的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• High spiking fever with chills is suggestive of a complicating pylephlebitis. 伴有寒战的高热，暗示合并门静脉炎。
• In America these actions become executive puberty rites, complicating relationships that are already complicated enough. 在美国，这些行动成了行政青春期的惯例，使本来已经够复杂的关系变得更复杂了。